The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is encouraging guests to walk with nature, making it easy to explore nearby US Virgin Islands National Park, which covers 60 percent of St. John and is famous for its diving, snorkeling and hiking trails. The beach resort has introduced a picnic prepared by its talented chefs, for guests heading over to St. John for a day of exploration. The rustic lunch, which is served in a picnic backpack ideal for hiking, includes sliced charcuterie and cheese, olives, hummus, antipasto salad, crusty bread, cookies and fresh fruit for dessert, and a bottle of wine.
Ferries to St. John run on the hour, and the ferry terminal is just a five minute drive from the luxury resort. Once in St. John, guests can begin hiking trails such as those to Honeymoon and Solomon beaches, or take a taxi to other trail heads for hikes to plantation ruins, petroglyph rock carvings and colorful coral reefs. Recommended hikes include:
• Trunk Bay: considered one of the island’s most beautiful beaches and features a 200m long underwater snorkel trail.
• Annaberg Plantation: featuring a trail that leads through factory ruins, slave quarters, windmill and other remains; placards along the trails describe how sugar was produced and discuss plantation life and the history behind sugar plantations on St. John.
• Reef Bay Trail: ideal for the adventurous, as this difficult, 5km hike exposes hikers to tropical forests, petroglyphs, freshwater pools and a waterfall.
• Solomon and Honeymoon beaches: Lind Point Trail starts at the National Park Welcome Center in Cruz Bay, and winds one mile to these two secluded beaches, only accessible by hiking or boating.
